Coaling device



June 23, 1925. 1,543,435

a. HOLMES comma mmca Fi p 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snuewlioz GRANT H01.MES.

June 23, 1925.

G. HQLMES COALING- DEVICE 2 Sheets-Shut 2 muemtoz GPA/VT HOLMES.

Filed Sept. 7, 1923 Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,543,435 PATENT OFFICE.

GRANT HOLMES, OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MARION STEAMSI-IOVEL COMPANY, OF MARION, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

conmne nnvron.

Application filed September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GRANT HOLMES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Danville, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois,have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Coaling Devices,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawing. v

This invention relates to a coaling device for steam shovels and thelike and is designed. more particularly for use with the large revolvingshovels used for stripping the overburden from deposits of coal, ore andthe like.

Shovels of this type are of large capacity and require large quantitiesof coal for their operation. The revolving frame or platform whichcarries the power plant is located a considerable distance above theground and when the machine is coaled by hand the coal must be handledat least twice in loading it onto the platform and this involves anamount of time and labor which adds materially to the cost of theoperation.

One object of the invention is to provide a power operated devicebymeans of'which the necessary quantity of coal may be quickly andeasily delivered from the ground to the bin on the revolving frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coalmg device of sucha character that the coal may be dumped into the same from a car or thelike and then delivered directly to the coal bin on the frame, thusavoiding all manual handling of the coal.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which maybe operated by a moving part of the excavating mechanism. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a coaling device whichwill be simple in construction and operation; and which, when not inuse, will occupy av position in which it will not interfere with thenormal operation of the machine.

Other objects of theinvention will appear as the device is described indetail.

In-the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is aside elevation, partly brokenaway, of a revolving steam shovel showing my invention applied thereto;Fig. 2 is a plan view of the revolving frame and coaling device; Fig. 3is a detail view of the hinged connection between the chute and theframe;

7, 1923. Serial No. 661,345.

and Fig. 4 is an elevation of a portion of the revolving frame showing amodified form of operating mechanism for the coalmg dev1ce.

In these drawingsI have illustrated one embodiment of my invention andhave .shown' the same as applied to a stripping shovel of the revolvingtype but it will be understood that the device may be applied tomachines of various kinds and that the mechanism may take various formswithout comprises a base 1 supportedat its corners by trucks 2, whichtravel on parallel tracks 3, the two trucks at one side of the basetraveling on one track and the trucks on the other side traveling on theother track. Mounted on the base 1 for rotation about a vertical axis isa frame or platform 4 on the forward end of which is supported a boom 5which carries the excavating device. In the present type of machine theexcavating device comprises a dipper 6 connected by a dipper arm 7 withthe boom and actuated by the usual crowding engine which is carried bythe boom. Upward and forward movement is imparted to the dipper by theusual hoisting cable 8. Mounted upon the revolving frame 4 and enclosedwithin a cab 9 are the power plant and operating mechanism. The steamshovel itself being of a well known construction it is not necessaryco-further describe it in detail.

As has been stated the revolving frame or platform is elevated aconsiderable disface over which the machine is operating and it 18necessary to deliver to this frame or platform the coal required for theopera tionv of the power plant, which is usually several tons a day. Themachine 'is provided with'a coal bin of suitable capacity which isusually supported on the revolving frame at the rear end of the cab 9;This coal bin, which is shown at 10, may be mounted directly on the mainframe or it may, as here shown, he carried by an extension 11 of themain frame. For the purpose ofdelivering the coal from the ground to thecoal bin on the revolving frame I have provided an elevating mechanismcomprising a coal receptacle or box 12 connected by means of a chute 13with the bin 10, the

chute being hinged at its inner end to the frame and constituting aconnection between thecoal box and the frame. The coal box may be of anysuitable size and shape but it is preferably of several tons. capacityand is, in the present instance, shown as rectangular in shape, thechute 13 being connected therewith at one corner thereof so that the twoouter or rear side walls of the box extend obliquely to the length ofthe revolving frame. The length and arrangement of the chute 13 are suchthat the box may be lowered onto the ground and will rest thereon in anupright position, thereby enabling the coal to be dumped into, orotherwise delivered to, the box from a coal car or other suitablecarrier. Means are provided for moving the coal box and the outer end ofthe chute upwardly about the pivoted connection of the chute with theframe, so that when the coal box has been moved to a position above'thepoint of connection of the chute with the frame the coal will bedischarged by gravity through the chute to the coal bin, with which theinner end of the" chute is inopen communication. Various means may beprovided for accomplishing this but, in the present instance, I havemounted on the rear end of the revolving frame a sheave supportingmember or leg-14. A cable 15 is connected at one end with said leg at apoint spaced from the upper end thereof and extends downwardly and abouta sheave 16 which is connected with the outer edge of the coal box 12,preferably by links 17, and thence upwardly about a sheave 18 at theupper end of the leg 14: and thence forwardly to the operatingmechanism. Preferably the leg 14 is pivotally mounted on the revolvingframe, as shown at 19, and its downward movement is limited by asuitable .stop, such as a chain 20 connected at one end with the leg andat the other end with a fixed part of the mechanism, such as the cab 9.When power is applied to the cable 15 a downward pull will be exertedupon the leg 14: which will retain the same in itsproper position and anupward pull will be exerted upon the coal box so that the latter will beelevated and its contents discharged through the chute into the coalbin. After the contents of the coal box have been discharged its upwardmovement is continued until its position with relation to the leg 14 issuch that the cable 15 will exert a forward pull upon the leg as well asupon the coal box,

thereby causing both members to move forwardly. As these members .passtheir cen ters of gravity the pull on the cable is discontinued and theyare allowed to move forward by gravity against a stationary part of themechanism, such as the rear end of the (151119, which constitutes asupport therefor. The upper end of the leg is arranged at an angle tothe body thereof and the coal box and chute may be moved into positionsclose to the leg and the several parts will be held against return orrearward movement by gravity.

Any suitable means may be provided for actuating the cable 15 to elevatethe coal box but I preferto utilize for this purpose a moving part ofthe excavating mechanism, thereby avoiding the necessity of installing aseparate power unit. In the present arrangement the cable 15 is carriedforward beyond the front end of the cab and is passed about a sheave 21on the upper side of the boom 5 and thenabout a sheave 22 on the lowerside of the boom and its forward end is connected with the excavatingdevice, the connection being, in the present instance, made directlywith the dipper. The connection between the cable and the excavatingdevice is preferably detachable so that the cable may be disconnectedtherefrom and will not in any way interfere with the ordinary operationof the mechanism. To this end the cable is here shown as provided with aring 23 adapted to engage over a tooth2 l of the dipper. Consequentlywhen thedipper is moved forwardly a forwardpull will be exerted on thecable and the coal-box will be elevated asfabove described. When thecoaling operation has been completed the cable is disconnected from thedipper and coiled in' an out of the way position until its use is againrequired for a further coaling operation. The arrangement is such thatthe coal-ing device maybe very quickly and very easily connected with ordisconnected from the excavating mechanism so that the whole coalingoperation will beaccomplished in a. very short space of time. The coalbox and the chute being supported in their idle positions just forwardof their centers of gravity very little power is required to move themrearwardly so that they will move to their operative positions bygravity. This can easily be done by a workman. Before the coal box ispushed across its center of gravity the cable will beattached to theexcavating device and tightened up sufli'ciently to check the fallingmovement of the coal box and cause the same tofbe lowered slowly to theground. A

lVhile I prefer to operate the coaling devlce from the excavatingmechanism of the machine it is entirely practical to operate it fromsome other source of power and in Fig. 4 of the drawings I have shownthe cable 15 as extending about a sheave 25 mounted above the cab 9 anddownward into the cab where it is connected; with a drum 26zdriven by asteam engine 27.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I have provideda coal-ing device which is very simplezi-n its construe tion andoperation and which can be operllU ated from a moving part of themachine, and which will deliver to the bin a large supply of coal at oneoperation. Inasmuch as the coaling device is so arranged that the coalcan be dumped into the box from the car it is unnecessary to move thecoal by hand at any time during the coaling of the machine. Further, themechanism is of such a character that when not in use it will besupported in a position where it will in no way interefere with thenormal operation 7 of the machine. Further, the device may be applied toan ordinary steam shovel of the type here shown without changing theconstruction thereof.

WVhile I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the detailsthereof as various modifications may appear to a person skilled in theart.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure b Letters Patent, is:

1. In a steam shovel or the like, the combination with a frame adaptedtosupport a power plant, and a coal bin carried by said frame, or a coalbox, a chute connecting said coal box with said bin and having a hingedconnection with said frame, and power operated means to elevate saidcoal box and cause its contents to be discharged through said chute intosaid bin, said chute and said coal box being so arranged that they willbe retained in their elevated positions by gravity.

2. In a steam shovel or the like, the combination with a frame adaptedto support a power plant, and a coal bin carried by said frame, of acoal box, a chute connecting said coal box with said bin and having ahinged connection with said frame, a leg pivotally mounted on saidframe, means to limit the outward movement of said leg, a sheave carriedby said leg, a cable connected with said coal box and extending aboutsaid sheave, and means to actuate said cable to elevate said coal box toa position in which its contents will be discharged through said chuteinto said bin, and to move said coal box and said leg into positionsabove said frame.

3. In a steam shovel or the like, the combination with a frame adaptedto support a power plant, and a coal bin carried by said frame, of acoal box, a chute connecting said coal box with said bin and having ahinged connection with said frame, a leg pivotally mounted on saidframe, means to limit the outward movement of said leg, a sheave carriedby said leg, a cable connected with said coal box and extending aboutsaid sheave, and means to actuate said cable to elevate said coal box toa position in which its contents will be discharged through said chuteinto said bin, and to move said coal box and said leg into positionsbeyond their centers of gravity so that they will be held against returnmovement by gravity.

4. In a steam shovel or the like, the combination with a frame adaptedto'support a power plant, excavating mechanism supported by said frame,and a coal bin carried by said frame, of a coal box, a chute connectingsaid coal box with said bin and having hinged connection with saidframe, and means for operatively connecting said coal box with saidexcavating mechanism, whereby the movement of said excavating mechanismwill elevate said coal box and cause its contents to be dischargedthrough said chute into Said bin.

5. In a steam shovel or the like, the combination with a frame adaptedto support a power plant, a boom carried by said frame, an excavatingdevice pivotally mounted on said boom, and a coal bin carried by saidframe, of a coal box, a chute connecting said coal box with said bin andhaving hinged connection with said frame, and a cable connected withsaid coal box and with said excavating device and so arranged that themovement of said excavating device will elevate said coal box and causeits contents to be discharged through said chute into said bin.

6. In a steam shovel or the like, the combination with a frame adaptedto support a power plant, a boom carried by said frame, a dipper movablymounted on said boom, and a coal bin carried by said frame, of a coalbox, a chute connecting said coal box with said bin and having hingedconnection with said frame, and a device for operative-- ly connectingsaid coal box with said dipper, whereby the movement of said dipper willelevate said coal box.

7 In a steam shovel or the like, the combination with a frame adapted tosupport a power plant, a boom carried by said frame, a dipper movablymounted on said boom, and a coal bin carried by said frame, of a coal'box, a chute connecting said coal box with said bin and having hingedconnection with said frame, a sheave supporting member mounted at therear end of said frame, a sheave carried by said member, and a cableconnected with said coal box, extending about said sheave and connectedwith said dipper.

8. In a steam shovel or the like, the combination with a frame adaptedto support a power plant, a boom carried by said frame, a dipper movablymounted on said boom, and a coal bin carried by said frame, of a coalbox, a chute comiecting said coal box with said bin and having hingedconnection with said frame, a sheave supporting member pivotally mountedat the rear end of said frame and extending upwardly therefrom, means tolimit the downward movement of said member, a sheave carried by saidmember, a sheave carried by said coal box, a cable secured to saidsheave siippoi't- 1119; member extending about the sheave on said coalbox and theiice about the sheave 011 said supporting member andconnected at its forward end with said dipper.

9-. In a steam shovel or the like, the cornbination with a frame adaptedto support a power plant, a boom carried by said frame, a dipper movablymounted on said boom, aiid a coal bin carried by said fraihe, of a coalbox, a chute 'cohiiectirig said coal box 15 With said bin and havirighinged oo'rine'otion with said frame, a sheave su porting memberpivot-ally mounted at the rear end of said frame extending upwardlytherefrom, means to limit the downward movement of said member, a sheavecarried by said mihher, a sheave Carried by said coal box, a cablesecured to said sheave supporting member, extending about the sheave 031said @0211 bOX and thenoe about the sheave on said supporting member anda detachable c011- n'e'otion betweeii said cable and said dipper.

I11 testimony Wherof, l1 affi'X i'ny signa ture hereto.

GRANT HOLMES.

